Germany – Environmental services – 81322847-Unterstützung von Akteuren bei Förderanträgen für Biodiversität und Wissensaustausch zur Ökokorridor-Restaurierung

Colombia's deforestation rate is high at 188,000 ha (2023) and causes approximately 46% of annual greenhouse gas emissions. The departments of Meta, Caquetá, and Guaviare are particularly affected. Many ecosystems are fragmented, which threatens the genetic exchange of animal and plant species. The Colombian government is currently initiating transformation processes in rural areas to promote social and economic justice, the sustainable use of biodiversity, and the restoration of ecosystems. However, inadequate access and lack of coordination among stakeholders prevent the effective use of these resources. Territorial governance is generally weak. There is a lack of sufficient capacity for monitoring forest use and the effects of restoration measures, as well as sustainable advisory services to advise the population in a market-oriented way towards integrated land and forest management. Thus, there is no sustainable, inclusive growth in the forest-based value chains that contribute to biodiversity conservation. The BioCadenas initiative builds on the successes of the TZ modules ProRural and ProBosques II in an integrated approach. BioCadenas promotes the diversification of sustainable production systems in landscapes dominated by cattle ranching. Through a value chain approach, the initiative supports the valorisation of forests, the expansion of agroforestry systems, including combined cattle ranching with tree stands, and thus also the resilience of local communities to market and climate risks. At the same time, BioCadenas strengthens governance to anchor sustainable forest management in a market-oriented way. The project objective of the initiative is to strengthen selected value chains that contribute to biodiversity conservation in agricultural and forestry enterprises in eco-corridors in the Amazon and Orinoquia. The target group is the vulnerable, conflict-affected rural population in the selected eco-corridors. It includes women, young adults and indigenous people, especially internally displaced persons, former guerrillas who have found a new home in the intervention area, as well as producers who previously cultivated coca. The initiative comprises four fields of action: 1.) Improving the coordination of key stakeholders creates conducive conditions for the competitiveness of biodiversity-conserving value chains in eco-corridors; 2.) Strengthening the commercial and technical capacities of enterprises improves participation in biodiversity-conserving supply chains. This achieves increased profitability and competitiveness, improved market access, and more incentives for biodiversity protection; 3.) Strengthening the technical and business management skills of producer groups enables the development and implementation of sustainable business models that contribute to biodiversity conservation; 4.) The initiative also supports the exchange of knowledge between relevant stakeholders and, in particular, women working on restoration in selected eco-corridors. Of particular importance is the exchange of methods for capturing the effects of restoration measures, as this is a crucial basis for raising additional funds.